December 2, 2009

Protected: Brotherly Love

December 1, 2009

Out of Our Minds

There is a light at the end of this tunnel, methinks.  Owen is still suffering the stomach bug from hell.  It makes me sad because he’s so tiny.  Okay, really he’s not tiny tiny.  He’s truly living up to his Monster Baby moniker, he’s just about ready to bust out of the 0-3 month clothing.  He’s only six weeks old.

It’s no surprise really, the child eats constantly.  I’m practically glued to the glider, nursing non-stop, save for the 3-5 hours he sleeps at night.  Last night he slept five hours straight and I woke up with softballs for breasts, they were so hard from engorgement.  Which make me laugh.  Softballs.  Right.  Too much information, I know.  I apologize.  Just tellin’ it like it is.

I shouldn’t complain.  Depsite the little virus, Owen is eating like a champ and growing like a weed.  I’ve been on edge the last five days because he sleeps erratically and wakes easily.  His big brother is the culprit.  I’m constantly telling Dawson to stop running! jumping! yelling! making so much noise!  It’s hard for Dawson to understand that he can’t be as loud and wild as he was before.  We’re working on teaching him to tone down his exuberance.  Just until Owen is ready to sleep somewhere other than in my arms or next to me or attached to me or in the sling.  This baby does not sleep well in his bassinet or crib.  He loves to be held.  LOVES.

If I put Owen down for longer than a minute he squawks then cries and wimpers and CRIES.  This morning he was unhappy that it took so long for me to use the bathroom.  When I came back to the room, Dawson was singing the alphabet to Owen, trying to calm him down.  He turned to me and said, “This baby is out of it’s mind.”  I just about died laughing.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“He does not want to stop crying.  He’s out of his mind!” Dawson said.

It still makes me giggle to think about it.

I think we’re all out of our minds.  Just a little bit.

November 25, 2009

Must Have Been Gas, But It’s All Over Now

So, it turns out that Owen might have had gas.  Gas! That is probably why he was fussy and not sleeping and making me think I was slowly losing my mind. Once I began bicycling his legs and giving him an occasional dose of Mylicon drops, he burped and farted and is now eating again.  All the time.  Like normal. I think we’ve hit the 6-week growth spurt, too.

Right now he is peacefully sleeping in his vibrating chair.  I’m not about to move him.  I wanted to take a nap myself, but Dawson just got home from school and I must keep one eye open to his needs and make sure he doesn’t wake the baby.  It’s exhausting, really it is.

I’m so sleep deprived these days that little things make me ornery and frustrated.  This morning I snapped at Dawson because he still hadn’t picked up the toys he played with the night before, after I asked him multiple times.

Then I snapped at Doug for asking me for some paperwork he needed to add Owen to our insurance plan.  I was nursing Owen at the time and had to get up and find whatever it is he needed.  I didn’t understand why he couldn’t find the stuff himself.

I even yelled at Murphy for barking too loudly and too often.  And when the phone rang I nearly lost it right then.  So many noises! No wonder Owen doesn’t nap during the day.

Because I’m preoccupied with all things baby and child, I haven’t even had time to contemplate Thanksgiving.  Thankfully my wonderful husband, the one I yelled at, has taken over.  He’s making baby back ribs and shrimp for Thanksgiving.  Because we forgot to thaw the turkey in time.  We’ll be having the bird on Saturday.  I’m so lucky my husband cooks.  I don’t know how I’d manage it with a baby attached to my breast 15 times a day.

We might visit my parents and Doug’s parents sometime during our days off, but with the weather turning colder and rainier, and with Owen recently coming down with the stomach flu I’m thinking it’s wise to stay home until all is well.

I’m really hoping I’ll get some free time to spend with Dawson.  After yelling at him this morning I’m feeling guilty and I realize I haven’t been available to him like I once was.  I know that taking care of Owen is a legitimate excuse, but I still need to let Dawson know I love him just as much as always.

Mothering two children isn’t as easy as I hoped it would be, but I’m sure it will get better and less complicated as Owen gets older. I can’t imagine how I’d manage if I had more than two kids.